From their East London studio, Raz Olsher and Afla Sackey are creating a truly exciting brand of afro-house deeply anchored in West African musical traditions, with big, lush vocal harmonies and an organic production style that lets acoustic percussion truly speak. It’s a unique musical fusion which owes much to its creators’ experience as true mainstays of the London music scene for the past twenty years, as well as a thoughtful artistic approach in which modernity and tradition maintain an ongoing dialogue.
After various releases for Beating Heart, Afro Zone, and Fossil Sounds, Raz & Afla are unveiling “Mama Weja”, a new 5-track EP exploring even further their unprecedented West African-infused take on afro-house with politically charged lyrics. The EP sets the tone for their upcoming debut album, to be released by Mawimbi later this year.
Lead single and EP opener “Survive” pays tribute to our collective resilience facing the global pandemic, encouraging us to hold on and “just keep on moving forward”. It showcases Raz & Afla’s exceptional talent at creating a new strain of afro-house, relying on a body of swinging talking drums, warm rhodes chords, and gospel-inspired vocal harmonies.
“Run Away” goes a different direction, with a clear nod to Britain’s ongoing history of bass music. While the usual djembe and shaker sounds are building the main breakbeat, Afla also introduces his balafon and Atenteben flute and reminds us how “the system is driving us mad”. The track is a masterful demonstration of how West African instrumentation can be used in various, exciting ways, resulting in what you could call “African bass music”.
“Dance Asokpo” is the EP’s true club banger, clearly referencing Ghana’s long lost obsession for house and techno, which they called “asokpor” back in the 90s. With a cutting hi-hat and a rolling bassline, the track has a typical “big room” sound, but of course, that’s not it; you’ll be invited to learn how to “dance asokpo”, with Afla teaching you all along with his djembe.
A late-night, psychedelic track, “Wobaahi Hejoleman” sees Raz & Afla explore a slightly deeper vibe. The party is well off and Afla’s vocals now resonate like echos in the night. You’ll follow him into a dancing trance.
With a driving, melodic bassline and a frantic balafon pattern, “Mama Weja” slowly unfolds as an epic afro-house track, reminiscent of the work of Auntie Flo. Afla’s beautiful vocals turn from a heady, powerful chorus to rhythmic incantations, revealing the track’s twofold identity.
released June 3, 2022
